IN FOREST AND ON HILL 247 



by mocking at the misspent bullets. More than once, 

 when the grouse were shy, we broke away in impromptu 

 stalks, invariably having our trouble for our pains. 

 They never had young, for the best of reasons. The 

 female must have been some score of years past bearing, 

 and although our acquaintance with them ended a 

 dozen of seasons ago, we can well imagine that they 

 may be still be "to the fore." But more youthful 

 animals might make more hopeful practice than those 

 diabolically wily ancients ; although we are sure, from 

 what we have seen of the race, that they would be hard 

 enough of approach in any case. But for the story of 

 a goat-stalk in the most thrillingly romantic circum- 

 stances, we must send the reader to " The Moor and 

 the Loch." It came off, some sixty years ago, on 

 Crap-na-Gower, u perhaps the most fascinating spot of 

 the far-famed Loch Lomond." " The island rises per- 

 pendicularly out of the loch by an almost inaccessible 

 succession of rocks and shaggy heather, full of deep 

 holes and caverns. Seen at a distance, with its wild 

 goats grazing among the grey rocks and scaurs, shaded 

 here and there by a clump of reverend yews, a finer 

 study for the artist's pencil could not be found." 



Scrope has commemorated the annual deer drives in 

 the forest of Athol, which perpetuated the historic 

 traditions of the days when Scottish monarchs on their 

 northern progresses had sylvan welcome from Highland 

 feudatories. The " tinchal " for obvious reasons has 

 fallen into disrepute ; there is great disturbance, more 

 noise than steady shooting, and a heavy bill if the 



